All MUITO BOM Things Must Come to an End...

30 Things to Do in Salvador

1. Pelourinho on a Tuesday night

2. Buy soccer jersey

3. Beach!

4. Run along beach

5. Find a park and picnic

6. Cook seafood

7. Samba class

8. Capoeira class

9. Portuguese class

10. Pretend fieldtrip through Salvador with little nuggets

11. Caipirinha

12. Caipiroska

13. Modern Art Museum

14. Historic Center

15. Watch sunset at café

16. Watch sunset at lighthouse

17. Complete mural on 3^rd floor

18. Buy earrings for Allegra

19. Powerpoint lessons

20. Powerpoint final presention for CCS

21. Rio Vermelho

22. Igreja Sao Francisco

23. Bale Folclorico da Bahia

24. Nosso Senhor do Bonfim Church

25. Market

26. Eat green corn ice cream

27. Dique de Tororo

28. Elevator Larcada

29. Pierce my nose!

30. Try that weird cheese stick stuff

 This post marks the last time I say Oi and Tchau from Salvador, Bahia, Brazil!

So sad to leave such a beautiful, warm, and friendly environment behind as I return to the U.S.A. Today at school, I almost broke down as the children presented me with a card and star earrings. The card read "Arlene, Time to Say Goodbay. We will be friends forever. We love you Arlene". I brought them a strawberry and creme cake (moranga) to celebrate the end of our journey. You should have seen one of my favorite kids (due to his chubbiness and chic red watch that he totally pretends to read) eat the remains of the cake. He licked the plate clean...literally! I couldn't help but think of the movie Matilda when that chubster gobbles up that blood-infused chocolate cake. 

These kids are the cutest I have ever met, and I am not too sure how I am going to get through next week without them saying "Chee-ah!" or "Taank U". I will also miss practicing my soccer juggling skills with them at recess. I wish I could take the kids home with me. I will have to figure out a way to visit them next summer! Pamela, the naughtiest of the bunch, started crying when I said "No mais...fin". I think she was the only 3-year-old that realized this was my last day. It broke my heart to see her this way, because usually she is tough and just loves to spit on people. The teachers were really sweet and thanked me for all I had done. 

On Wednesday, I presented my findings on the Brazilian education system. I discussed the guidelines that stemmed from the 1988 Constitution and the 1961 National Educational Bases and Guidelines Law; they overlap in some ways and clash in others. I talked about the tiers of education: infant (optional), fundamental, intermediate, and higher education and the different criteria for entrance into the next stage. As a future teacher, I outlined the process of both obtaining and maintaining a teaching certificate. Then, I mentioned an article I read in The Economist. I spoke about how the education system has gone from "disastrous" in 2000 to "very bad".

Since other volunteers were present to see what I had accomplished during my internship, I shared with them the powerpoint presentation lessons I used to teach the children some vocabulary. I also shared my lesson plans and experience with the students at Portinari Colegio Candido, using much of my blog entries (thank you, Jing!).  This was my first presentation that consisted of 44 slides...boy, did I need water after 30 minutes!

So, since it's my last day, I am going to chill on the beach. Other than bumping into potential husbands--clad in speedos-- and soaking up the Brazilian sun, I kind of want to get my gym, tan, laundry on! I will stay until 5 so that I can watch the sunset at the lighthouse. Then, I will proceed to finish the lighthouse mural upstairs. For the night, I will go see the ballet that everyone is raving about! In the night, Ashley, Talia, and I will live it up in Rio Vermelho one last time! There is where it all begin...the craziness, the laughter, the samba sounds. All MUITO BOM (very good) things must come to an end...

Muito prazer (Pleasure to meet you), Mr. Brasil; mutio obrigada para todos!

Arlene 

P.S. I spent an hour trying to add in some powerpoint slides and  pictures but for some reason this blog website was resistant to visuals this time around....Desculpe!